The hit satirical romance webtoon The Loser Is the First Lady is making the leap to television. The story, a mix of politics, marriage, and rivalry, has already built a strong fanbase online, and now a drama adaptation is on the way.
The story centers on Kwak Hyun Woo, a conservative lawmaker, and his wife Jo Jae Ryeong, a progressive politician. Both are members of Korea’s National Assembly, but they could not be more different.
He is an early riser, while she is a night owl. They argue over everything from household chores to government policy, living as both partners and rivals. Their uneasy balance collapses when a massive bribery scandal emerges ahead of the 21st presidential election.
Forced into the national spotlight, the couple decides to compete directly against each other for the presidency. The premise raises the stakes with biting humor—“winner takes the Blue House, loser becomes the First Spouse.”
On August 19, Jaedam Media, known for adapting webtoons and novel IPs, announced the drama adaptation of The Loser Is the First Lady. The webtoon is currently serialized every Thursday on Naver Webtoon.
The project will be produced in partnership with Cross Pictures, a production company with a proven track record of successfully bringing webtoon stories to life on screen.
Cross Pictures has previously produced hit adaptations such as Business Proposal and the long-running comedy The Sound of Your Heart. They also partnered with Jaedam Media on the Japanese film Knuckle Girl, which was released simultaneously in over 240 countries on Amazon Prime Video Japan.
The original creators of The Loser Is the First Lady also boast impressive résumés. Writer Choi Yu Jin, recognized for her emotionally rich narratives and layered character portrayals, previously penned Duchess Crow and Forget Marriage, I’d Rather Go Bankrupt. Artist Kang Ji Young has contributed to works like Kingsmaker and Oh, My God!
With its unusual premise of a married couple competing for the presidency, The Loser Is the First Lady is set to be one of the more original upcoming webtoon-to-drama adaptations.